Movable drawer structure



Nov. 27, 1951 w, R, McDowELL. 2,576,407

MOVABLE DRAWER STRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-*SHEET l Filed March 26, 1948 IN VENTOR.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

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Nov.' 27, 1951 Filed March 26, 1948 Patented Nov. 27,1951

*..UNITED r-sm'rgs. ram orifice Walter R. McDowell, /Vestchester, Ill.,vassigner to Hotpoint Inc., a corporation of New York Application March26, 194s, serial Nail-1,292 1 claim. (c1. en -343) n l The presentinvention relates to movable drawer structures and more particularly tosuch drawer structures in electric ranges or the like.

An electric range usually comprises` a body provided with one or morelongitudinally extending drawer spaces receiving corresponding movabledrawers employed for storage purposes.

It is a general object of the present invention 4to provide movabledrawer structure of the character noted that is of improved andsimplified "construction and arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide drawer structure of thevguided roller supported type that is easy to manipulate and quiet in operation.

Further features of the :invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the elements of the movable drawer structure; whereby theabove-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and lmethod 'of operation,together with further objects and advantages' thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specication takenv inconnection vwith the accompanying drawv "ings, in which Figure lis aperspective view of'an electric range incorporating a plurality ofmovable'ldrawer structures'e'mbodying the present invention; Fig. 2 isan enlarged planview of one of the drawer structures, illustrating thestructural details thereof; Fig. 3 is a greatly ,enlarged sideelevational View partly broken away, of the drawlver structure shown inFig. 2, illustrating fthe structural details of the side portionthereof; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the drawerstructure, taken in the direction of the arrows along the lines 4-4 inFig, 3, illustrating the structural details of the upper rear portionthereof; and Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectionalview of the upperfront portion of the drawer structure, taken in thedirection of the arrows along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3, illustrating oneof the front supporting rollers incorporated therein. 1 Referring now toFig. 1 of the drawings, the Aelectric range I D therelllustratedcomprises an upstanding frame or body I I provided with asubstantially horizontally disposed cooking'top y'I2 terminatingadjacent to the rear thereof in an upwardly directed backsplasher I3.l`rlhe b ody lI I lcomprises an` oven disposed in theright-hand of in amanner not shown. Also' thebod-y II com;

prises a storage spacedisposed in the right-hand lower portion thereofbelow the oven and receiving movable drawer structure l5 embodying thepresent invention. Further the body II comprises another storage vspacedisposed in the left-hand upper portion thereof below the cooking top I2and receiving movable drawer structure I6 embodying the'presentinvention. Finally, the *body Il comprises a furtherstorage spacedisposed in the lower left-hand portion thereof, belowthe drawer spacereceiving the" drawer structure I6 and to the left of the drawer spacereceiving'the drawer structure I5,`which storage space receives drawerstructure H embodying the present in'- vention'.` AInFiglthe drawerstructure I5is illustrated in its partially open position, while thevdrawer structures'l and lI are illustrated in theirfully closedpositions. In the range -IU the oven door I and the' fronts of thedrawer structures I5, I6 and Ill-when closed, provide a smoothcontinuous vertical four-section front wall disposed below the cookingtop'IZ. Thel body II comprises upstanding front and rear Awalls I8 vandI9', between which thefoven space and the three drawer spaces arearranged; thefront wall I8 vhai/"ingA three openings therein throughwhich the three drawer structures I5, I6 and I'I-are respectivelymovably arranged. Specically; the drawer structure I5 ismovablylarranged Vin anopening I8a formed in lthe'front wall I8; which opening I8a vis'provided with an inwardly directed surrounding flange or lip I8b,'as best showninFig. 3. v

Referring now'morevparticularly to Figs.' 2 to v5, inclusive, of thedrawings the'details of the drawer structure l5" are'illustrated; whichdrawer structure vI 5 comprises a seamless one-piece deepdrawnV drawer20 formed of cold rolled deep drawing sheet,vv steel provided withlongitudinally spaced-apart front and rear walls Zlv'and 22,'tw'olaterally spaced-apart side walls 23 land'24and a connecting bottomwall' 25'. In the drawer corners V between the front and rearwa.lls'2:lv and 22 andthe side Walls 23' andZll areroundedj'the rear wall22 `andthe' Vside walls'A 23yand 'Zglfare provided with, a',i continuousl downwardly rolled rim, including corresponding sections 22d., y23a and24a; and the frontwall 2|` is provided with a.forw`ardly projectingflange vZlot merging into therim sectionsn 23a and 24a. Thus it willb'eiunf.- fderstood that the walls 2|, 22, 23, 24 andf25, the rimsections 22a,123a and 24a and the flange 2I', k*are formedintegrally;'froriiwasuitable one-piece blank'-by'the deep-drawingprocess mentioned;

Also-Tthefdrawer lstructure 4'I-5 comprises two substantiallyhorizontally disposed and laterally parallel spaced-apart longitudinallyextending guide channels 3| and 32 positioned between the front and rearwalls I8 and I9. The guide channels 3I and 32 are identical; the frontends of the guide channels 3l and 32 are secured to the respectiveupstanding side portions of the flange I8b carried by the front wall I8and surrounding the opening Ia'; and :the rear ends of the guidechannels 53| zand .32 project through slots formed in the rear wall I9.Specifically, the front end of the guide channel 3l is secured to theadjacent portion of the flange Ib by an arrangement including a screwand cooperating nut 33; and the front end of the :guide channel .32 Yissecured to the adjacent portion of the flange I'Bb by an arrangementincluding a screw .and cooperating nut 34. The extreme rear endL of theguide channel 3l is secured to an adjacent tab carried by the rear wallI9 by an arrangement jincluding .a screw and a vcooperating nut .35; andvthe extreme rear end of the guide channel V32 .is secured to .anadjacent ltab carried by the rear 'wall -I9 Vby an arrangement includinga .screw and :a cooperating .nut .36. Thus it will be under- ;'stoodthat the guide channels 3'I and 32 are removably .secured in .placebetween the front wall 1H!` and the rear ywall `I9 and are laterallyspacedapart on the opposite sides of the longitudinally extending drawerspace formed in the body I-l. A Ther-guide channel v3l comprises acentral .body portion provided Vwith inwardly directed substan- :tiallyr,horizontal parallel spaced-apart upper and lower .flanges 31 and 38and a .connecting vertically extending web 39,; the lower flange 38.being vprovided with an outwardly and downwardly -bent lp'll. Likewise,the guide channel 32 comprises a central .body portion vprovided with.inwardly -directed .substantially horizontal parallel spaced-apartupper and lower lflanges 4I :and 42 a connecting vertically-extendingweb 43; the lower flange =42 `being provided with an putwardly vanddownwardly .bent lip 44. The front and `rear ends of the guide .channel3| are .-identical; the .front and rear ends of the upper flange 3f!being flattened into theplane of the web 39; the front end of the lowerfla-nge 5B .being flattened to .provide a vertical support 45 .disposedinwardly from the web 35.; .and the rear and of the lower .flange -38`being flattened to ,provide a vertical support 46 disposed inwardlyfrom the web .39. Likewise, thefront and rear ends of the guide channel32 :are identical; the

`front and lrear ends of the upper .flange 4I being flattened into the.plane of the web 43; the front and .of .the lower flange 42 beingflattened .to

provide a ver-tical support 4J disposed inwardly .from the web 43; andthe rear end of the lower `,flange 33 .being `:flattened to provide avertical ,support 48 disposed .inwardly from .the web 43. The drawer is.supported by the .guide channels (3l and 332 for movement into .and outof the .longitudinally extending drawer space provided `iin 'the vlowerright-hand portion of vthe .body .l I,

the .rirn section 23a 'being arranged within they :ture 55 is secured tothe rear wall 22 of the drawer 20 adjacent to and below the rim section22a; and the opposite ends thereof carry outwardly extending pins 56 and5l respectively mounting Vrollers 58 and 59 that are preferably .of theball-bearing type. The rollers 58 and 59 respectively project into theguide channels 3| and 32; the faces of the rollers 58 and 59 beingspaced a short distance inwardly with respect to Athe webs .39 and 43'.The .peripheral surface .of .the roller 5B vis adapted to engage eitherthe upper flange .-3.1 or .the .lower flange 38 depending .upon theposition Vof -.the drawer 2l); and like# wise, .the peripheral surfaceof theY roller T59 is adapted to engage either the upper flange Y4| orthe lower flange 42 depending upon the position .of the drawer 2G.

A downwardly extending front s'top 6I is secured 'to the central lower,portion of the bottom wall 25 adjacent to the .rear wall 22 and Yisadapted to cooperate with the lower .portion of the flange IBBsurrounding the opening I8a formed in the front wall I8. Two maindepressions II and l2 are respectively formed in the lower flanges 3Band 42 of the guide channels -3I and 32 respectively adjacent to therear ends thereof and cooperate .with .the vrespective rollers 58and'5'9 in a manner more .fully explained hereinafter.y Likewise, twoauxiliary depressions '.73 land 'I4 are respectively formed in thellower flanges 38. and 42 of 'the guide channels 3l and `32 respectivelyadjacent to the front ends thereofV and are'A adapted to cooperate withthe respective rollers 59 and 58 in a manner moreY fully ex plainedhereinafter. The two main rear ded pressions 'I'I and I2 are identical,each including .a gradually vrearwardly declined .front surface and an.abruptly rearwardly .inclined rear surface. Specifically, the main reardepression'II .includes `the gradually rearwardly declined .frontsurface 8l and the abruptly rearwardly inclined rear surface. 82. Thetwo auxiliary vdepressions Y'I3 and "I4 yare identical, each including a.gradually forwardly `declined rear surface Yand an abruptly .forwardlyinclined Yfront surface. Specifically, the .auxiliary depression 13includes a gradually forwardly declined rear surface -33 and theabruptly forwardly inclined front surface 84.

Further, the ydrawer 20 is provided with front cover .structure 9 Irigidly secured to the front of the flange. 21a `and to the side wall-s23 and 24 land covering the front wall'2 I kand yextcndingover theopening I8a formed in the front wall I8. Specifically, the 4coverwstructure 9| comprises two rearwardlyextendi-ng 'plates 92 embracingtherespective side walls 23 :andv24an`d welded thereto. Also the coverstructure .9-I isprovidedfwith a front wall 93 generally rectangular inconfigurai tionv and` provided with an i-nwardlytnrned Ysur-- rounding.flange l94. The frontV wall 93 and the flange 94V are suitably :enameledornishedto match the other surfaces fof the body II, and are votherwiseformed togprovide -a range I0 havingah attractive appearance.Specifically, .it will be unrollers .53, 58 and 59.

derstood that the' front wall 93 comprises-the lower' right-handquadrant of the front wallvof the body- I|, when the drawer structuref-`I5 occupies its fully closed position. Finally, the front wall 93carries an operating handle 95 that may be suitably trimmed withchromium or the like.

Considering now the operation of the drawer structure I5, it will beobserved that when the drawer occupies its fully closed or pushed-inposition, the front wall 93 is arranged ush with the front 'walls of theother drawer structures 4Il; and I1*v and with the front wall of thedoor I4. -Moreover, the drawer 20 is restrained -in its fullyclosedposition bythe main rear depressions 1I and 12frespectivelycooperating with the rear rollers` 58 and 59 in' order to hold the rearface of the front cover 9| in vengagement-.with the 9| is just movedintostriking engagement with respect to the front face of the front wall I8;as in-movement of the drawer 20 is arrested;

whereby; the cover structure 9| does not strike l' the front wall I8with great force. This operation is achieved by virtue of the fact ythatthe rollers 58 and V5I) riding on the respective lower anges 38 and 42ride down the rearwardly-declined surfaces provided in the reardepressions 1I and 12 respectively and then engage the abruptlyrearwardly inclined surfaces of therear depressions 1I and 12respectively arresting further in-movement of the drawer 20 just as thecover structure 9| is moved into striking engagement with the adjacentportion of the front wall I8; whereby the drawer 20 is rst drawn intoits fully closed position and restrained therein.

y In order to movel the drawer 28 fromits fully closed position towardsits open or pulled-out position, it is only necessary to exert a slightpulling movement upon the handle 95 -by Virtue of .the support of thedrawer 20 by the ball-bearing Specifically, during initial out-movementof the drawer 20, the lower portions ofthe rim sections 23a and 24arideupon the peripheral surfaces of the respective front rollers 5I `.and 53and the rear rollers-58 and Y.'59 respectively ride upon the lower anges38 and 42. Specifically, the upper peripheral portions of the front*`rollers 5I and 53 project slightly above the respective lower flanges 38and 42; whereby A the lower portions of the rim sections 23a and 24acannot engage or scrape the respective adjacent lower fianges 38 and 42incident to movement of thedrawer 20. Also the upper and lowerperipheral portions ofthe rear roller 58 respectively project above andbelow the'upper and lower portions of the` rim section 23a; wherebytherespective upper and lower portions ofthe rim section 23a cannotengage or scrape the respectively associated upper and -lower flanges'31and 38 incident to movement of L'thedrawer 20. Likewise, the upper andlowervperipheral portions of the 1oller59 respectively project above andbelow the upper and lower por- `tions-of the rim section 24m-whereby therespecof the front rollers 5I and 53; whereby the front of thev drawer28 is tilted slightly downwardly causing the rear rollers 58 and 59 todisengage the respective lower flanges 38 and 42 and to engage therespective upper flanges 31 and 4I. As outrnovement` of the drawer 20 iscontinued, the front rollers-5I and 53 continue to engage and supportthe 'respective lower portions of the rim sections 23a and 24a; whilethe rear rollers 58 and 59 continue to engage and ride upon therespective upper flanges 31 and 4I. When the drawer 28 is moved into itsfully withdrawn position, the front stop 6I engages the lower portion oftheflange I8b surrounding the opening IBa formed in the front wall I8,thereby' arresting further out-movement of the drawer 20. rAt this timethe drawer 28 may be wholly removed from the body II by lifting upwardlyupon theA handle causing the lower portions of the rim sections 23a and23h to disengage the respective frontroll'ers 5I and 453, causing therearr rollers 58 and 59 to disengage the respective upper iianges 31 and4I and to re-engage the respective'lower flanges 38 and 42, and causing,the front stop 6I to disengage the adjacent lower portion of the angeI8b. At this time vby pullingoutwardly upon the handle 95 the drawer 2|)may be completely removed from 'the body II, thevrear rollers 58 and 59disengaging the front ends of the guide channels 3| and 31.

Subsequently, the rear endof the drawer 20 may be again inserted intothe opening Ia, the rear rollers 58 and 59 being aligned with respect tothe guide channels 3| and 32. Thereafter, upon continued pushing uponthe handle 95 the drawer 20 is moved inwardly `and the front stop 6Irides over and behind the lower portion of the flanges I b.l At thistime the drawer 28 again occupies its fully open position.

In order tol return the drawer 2li to its fully closed position, it isonly necessary to push upon the handle 95. Initial in-movement of thedrawer 2D is again guided by the guide channels 3| and 32. Specifically,the front rollers 5I and 53 engage and support the lower portions of therespective rim sections 23a and 24a, and the rear rollers 58 and 59engage and ride upon the upper flanges 31 and 38. After the drawer 20had been moved to a considerable pushed-in position, the weight of therear portion of the drawer 20 causes the drawer 20 to tilt about thefront rollers 5IA and v53; whereby the rear rollers 58 and 59 disengagethe respective upper flanges 31 and4l and again engage the respectivelower flanges 38 and 42. When the drawer 28 is again moved to its fullypushed-in position the rear rollers 58 and 59 again cooperate with therear depressions 1I and 12f4 respectively inv order to' draw the drawer28 into its fully closed position and to arrest in-movernent thereof andto re'- strain it in its fully closed position in the mannerpreviouslyexplained.

The drawer 20 may be subject tosome lateral shifting movementv as it ismoved longitudinally into and out of the body VII and in order topreventthe front rollers 5I and 53 from engaging the respectivelyadjacent side walls 23 and 24, thefaces of the rollers 5I and 53 arerespectively disposed outwardly with respect to the bends in the lips 40and 44 respectively carried by the lower flanges 38 and 42.Specifically, the bend in the lip 40 carried by the lower flange 38projects inwardly with respect to the face of the adjacent front roller5I so that the adjacent side wan 23 strikes the bend m the up 4o insteady ama@ 7 ofA the .tace-of the adjacent front roller l in the event oflateral shifting movement of the drawer 2 0..` In a similari-mannerinorder to prevent jthe rear rollers 5 8 and 59- from engaging therespectively adjacentside walls 23. and 24 Aof the drawer 20, vthe facesof the lrollers 5 8 andf59 are respectively disposed outwardlywith-respect to the bends in the lips 40 and 44 respectively 4barried bythe lower anges 38 .and-42.. Specifically, the bendin the -lip dilcarried by the lowerA flange 38 .projects inwardly withrespect to theaceof the adjacent rear vroller 58 sothat the adjacent the auxiliarydepressions i3 and 74 .are .then

employed', to .cooperate with therespective .rear rollers 59 and 58carried by the drawer Y. 2.3.; whereas the main depressions 'H and 12are not utilized. In other Words, when the Yrange V0 is beingassembledno particular. care must Vbe lexercised in assembling the guidechannels 3| and 32 in the body ll, since all of the guide channels arepre-formed and are of identicatconstruction.'A Specifically, the .frontrollers 5| and v53 are merely assembled upon two of the vsupportsrespectively carried by the guide .channels 3l and 32; andthe guidechannels 3l and 32 are assemled into the body Il with the rollers 5| and52 at .the lfront thereof.;Y wherebytwo depressions willfbeautomatically positioned adjacent to the rear of the guide channels 3|and 3'2 order to cooperate with the rear rollers 58 and`45'9 carried bythe drawer 20, regardless of the manner of 'assembly of the` guidechannels .3l and 32 left and right 'in the body n. In .view of .theforegoingitis apparent that there .has been provided improved movabledrawer structure that is especially adapted for use .inl electric rangesor the like. l While: .there Yhas been described what is at presentconsidered to be the preferred embodinient ofthe invention, it will beunderstood that various modifications maybe madetherein, and it isintended to-cover in the appended claim all and scope ofthe invention.

What isclaimed is: Y In combination, structure provided with anupstanding front surface having a longitudin ally extending drawer-space.formed therein, `a drawer provided with longitudinally, spacedd apartupstanding frontand rear walls and two laterally spaced-apart upstandingsidewalls and a connecting bottom wall and a surrounding top rim, saidrim provid-ing two laterally vspaced.-

apart rim guides respectively projecting outwardly fromsaid side walls,two longitudinally extending drawer-guide members secured toY said vsuch modications as fall withinthetrue spirit structure and disposed Vin`a substantially horizontal plane, saidmembers beingf disposedinsubstantially parallel laterally. spaced-apart relation adjacentzto theVopposite sidesoi said drawer-space and respectively receiving saidguides, two v inwardly directed lowerv flanges vref'- spectivelycarriedv by said members and respectively disposed below said rimguides, two irlwardly `directed upper flanges respectively carried bysaid members and respectively disposed above said vrim guides, twolaterallyV spaced? apart Imain attachments respectively ,provided on the`iront ends'of .said-members, two :lateral-ly spaced-apart front rollerslresileltively carried by said mainjjattachments andrespectivelyproject-f-y ing slightly above -said lower anges -andl respecf tively.Supporting vsaid Vrim vguides. twoqlateraliy spaced-apart,-rearrollers. respectively carried on the yopposite sides of said draweradjacent to said rear wall and respectively projecting both slight lyabove and -slightly below said rimgu-ides and respectively engagingfsaid upper flanges when said drawer is moved to a considerably pulled;-out position and respectively engagingsaid lower anges when said drawerisA moved toa consider.- ably pushed-in position, an upstandingrontcover carried bysaid front wall andV projecting over the adjacentfrontsurface o'f 'said structure and covering the front of said ldrawer-spacewhen said draweris moved into vits fully .pushede in position, twolaterally spaced-apart mainoff?- sets respectively `carried by saidlower.- flanges adjacent to the rear ends `thereof and .respectivelycooperating with said; rear .rollers to restrain said drawer in itsfully .pu-shedein position, two laterallyispacedeapart auxiliary attachments respectively provided on the rear ends of saidA members, and-ftwov laterally-spacedapart auxiliary off-sets respectively carriedA'by saidv lower anges adjacent vto 'the front ends thereof, saidvauxiliary attachments being .are ranged to. carry saidrear rollersyinorder to serve the purpose 'of` said .main attachments and 'saidauxiliary offs-sets 1 being arranged to 4coop-g -erate with said rearrollers in order ,to'servel the purpose of said main-voff-sets in theeventvsaid members are respectively Secured to said -struc= ture inreversed: right-hand and left-'hand :posi tions. 1 -l/VllLIERR.,MCDOWELLJ 3 REFERENCES CITED 'The `iol-lowir'ig#references are! ofrecord in the -le of this patent;` f "f'- UNITED "STATES PATENTS Numberk Name .Date

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